Joe Rich appointed as new Chair of Trustees at My Life My Say

My Life My Say (MLMS) is delighted to announce the appointment of Joe Rich as the new Chair, succeeding Andrew Roughan, who is stepping down after six years of exceptional service to the charity.

Joe joins the organisation at an exciting time of growth and expansion for MLMS, following a landmark chapter that has seen the charity coordinate the UK’s largest youth voter registration campaign, coordinate the National Youth Strategy’s consultation with young people, successfully campaign to extend the franchise, develop its youth leadership programme the Squad, and deepen its impact through the expansion of its Democracy Café model nationwide.

Currently the Head of Youth Voice at The National Lottery Community Fund, Joe leads the Fund’s mission to ensure that young people’s voices are heard, valued, and embedded within one of the UK’s most influential funding institutions. Her career has been defined by a commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and ensuring that young people have real influence in decision-making spaces - values that perfectly align with the mission and vision of My Life My Say.

Speaking about her appointment as Chair of My Life My Say’s, Joe Rich stated: 

“Youth Voice has run through my blood throughout my career, where I have embedded young people across large institutions and within communities, including in my current role at the largest Community Funder in the UK. I have always loved the work of My Life My Say and how incredible they are at engaging amazing young people to the table with decision makers across society to make the change we all want and need today. I am beyond excited to take on this role and support the talented team in the next chapter of this inspirational charity!” 

Welcoming Joe to the role, Dan Lawes and Melisha John, Co-CEOs of My Life My Say, said:

“We’re thrilled to welcome Joe as our new Chair of Trustees. Her passion for youth empowerment, combined with her experience embedding youth voice at the heart of national institutions, makes her the perfect person to help guide My Life My Say into its next chapter. Joe joins us at a pivotal moment of growth - as we expand our programmes, strengthen our partnerships, and continue building a movement that ensures every young person has a seat at the table where decisions are made.” 

Dan Lawes and Melisha John, Co-CEOs, My Life My Say

The charity would also like to express its deepest gratitude to outgoing Chair, Andrew Roughan, who has played a transformative role in shaping the organisation’s growth, governance, and long-term strategy. Under his leadership, MLMS has become one of the UK’s leading youth-led charities, championing democratic participation and amplifying the voices of young people in politics and public life.

As Joe starts her new tenure as Chair, her first point of call is to lead a new effort to diversify our Board of Trustees. We’re officially opening recruitment for new trustees - and we’re actively looking for young people and those with lived experience to join us. Please visit https://www.mylifemysay.org.uk/trustee for more information.

About My Life My Say

My Life My Say is a youth-led, non-partisan charity on a mission to encourage young people to participate in democracy and get every single young person voting. MLMS is recognised as one of the leading drivers of youth engagement in the UK, reaching over 8 million young people since 2013, increasing access to democracy, and affecting real change that benefits the greater good. It has garnered the praise of the UK Government, Mayor of London, Mayor of London and the United Nations. In 2024, it coordinated the Give An X Campaign which generated a record breaking 488,846 click-throughs to the gov.register website.

For media enquiries, please contact: dan@mlms.org.uk